Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, on Dec. 14, 2022. (Credit: Ali Jadallah/AFP)
Yahya Sinwar, 62, Hamas’ leader in Gaza and the mastermind behind the Oct. 7 attack, was named head of Hamas’s politburo, the Islamist movement said on Tuesday.This is a culmination of years-long efforts to extend his stranglehold over Hamas. Sinwar, whose face is darkened by a lion’s wrinkle and thick black eyebrows, succeeded Ismail Haniyeh, who held this post while based in Doha until his assassination in Tehran on July 31. With Sinwar’s appointment, Hamas’ politburo leadership will be based in the Gaza Strip for the first time. The movement is hence revamped by Sinwar’s image to represent an unprecedented alignment with Iran and an armed struggle against Israel.This sends to Israel a clear message: Hamas is resilient and will continue to fight until Tel Aviv agrees to its conditions, even if it were to cost thousands more lives.“The...
Yahya Sinwar, 62, Hamas’ leader in Gaza and the mastermind behind the Oct. 7 attack, was named head of Hamas’s politburo, the Islamist movement said on Tuesday.This is a culmination of years-long efforts to extend his stranglehold over Hamas. Sinwar, whose face is darkened by a lion’s wrinkle and thick black eyebrows, succeeded Ismail Haniyeh, who held this post while based in Doha until his assassination in Tehran on July 31. With Sinwar’s appointment, Hamas’ politburo leadership will be based in the Gaza Strip for the first time. The movement is hence revamped by Sinwar’s image to represent an unprecedented alignment with Iran and an armed struggle against Israel.This sends to Israel a clear message: Hamas is resilient and will continue to fight until Tel Aviv agrees to its conditions, even if it were to cost thousands more...